French Wanker - Victoria Pinder Page 0,52
the lounge flew open.
I stood as the pretty blonde came toward me, until she pivoted toward the refrigerator and took out a bottle of water.
Of course. I should have known.
She gulped down a whole bottle and tossed the empty into the recycle bin. I followed her lead and tossed my own in after it. I moved closer to her and my hair stood on its ends as I said, “Congrats.”
“You’re Phoenix Steel?” she said, as she grabbed my hand and shook it, sending a shockwave through me.
In the next show she’d wear jeans that fit, I thought, and the show after that, a form-fitting dress. She’d slowly come out of her shell like she was growing for the cameras.
And the audience would love her.
My own body was hard, like I wanted her, which was strange. Virginal types weren’t my norm. But no woman gave me trembling skin like this. It was probably still just the adrenaline, I thought, as I simply answered, “Yes.”
I’d heard the announcer say her name, but it wasn’t on the tip of my tongue. I coughed, about to ask, but she just beamed a lightness that came from her soul and I lost the ability to speak for a second, until she said, “Good to meet the competition. You were good tonight.”
Score one for her. Clearly. I took my hand back, but instantly missed the fire that I’d just touched. I shoved my hand in my pocket so I wouldn’t seem like a twelve-year-old boy meeting a girl he liked and hoping he’d get a kiss. I said, “You were better.”
She gulped a second water like she’d been parched. Once she finished, she took a deep breath and I noticed that, underneath the all-black-to-her-toes outfit, her figure might just be curvy.
And I loved curves. The more a girl had, the better I liked her. And a nice backside.
If she had that, I was a complete sucker. But I wasn’t twelve anymore and she wasn’t the first girl I’d ever noticed, so I widened my stance.
She again commanded the room when she said, “Now that’s good to hear. And true.”
“Confident.” I straightened my shoulders, half wondering what she’d do or say next. She was like some sort of goddess right now.
And then she placed her hand on her hip and stuck it out a little as she adjusted her pose.
“Unlike you, I’m not here for a second chance,” she said. “I’m here for my first one, and I’m not going to lose that.”
Direct wasn’t something I was used to anymore. So the challenge was on the table. But I had always found that I had the ability to charm people and make them laugh as a means to get what I wanted. And I might just want this woman.
My skin still had goosebumps from that contact, and I reveled in sensations I’d not had in years. I said, “I get it. I screwed up my life and lost everything once, but I don’t intend to do that again. And I’m not the one looking to break the chains of parental oppression.”
“Your choice of words is extreme.”
“It’s better to live dangerously than to die without ever following your own desires.”
She pivoted on her shoes and her long, dowdy dress swooshed with her as she said, “Well, it was nice talking to you.”
I’d been rude. She clearly had different parents than my own. I probably should apologize. Then, like the sun coming out of the sky on a cloudy day, I remembered and called out, “Carrigan?”
“Yes?” she asked, and moved a little closer. I could smell her perfume that reminded me of early morning dew on roses.
And that smile of hers was brilliant. Seriously. She could melt hearts over her cereal, including mine at the moment. Though mine was broken and still on ice.
I just wanted a few more minutes with her as this was probably our only chance to talk as friends.
Once the competition started, I had to find her weakness, expose it and make myself seem like a good guy in the process.
But that was how reality TV was played. And we’d both agreed to the game. For now, though, it was just us. So I pointed to the door and asked, “Want to get something to eat?”
Her gaze narrowed as she asked, “With you?”
Fair. I wouldn’t trust me either. But I stood in front of the door and said, “Why not? You just told the televised world that you’re single, and you didn’t join your parents at your hotel.”
“In a few hours we report to living right here, on this stage. My parents will bring my bags to me,” she answered quickly, like I’d insulted her. She then coughed and said, “I didn’t want to get in a car, drive all the way to the hotel, and then just have to turn around and come back in a few hours.”
My hunger for her was palpable as I said, “My driver will take us to the local pub and back.”
Her gaze went up. “You have a driver?”
Yes. Songwriting had been my one saving grace, and a decent source of income. I ignored how my muscles were tense from her nearness and said, “It’s faster than walking. And, for the record, I want to be here for the end too.”
She sucked in her bottom lip and let it out as she nodded, “I am hungry.”
I offered my arm like I was some fucking gentleman and said, “Then let’s go.”
“No touching,” she said, staring at my arm.
I lowered it, but winked as I walked beside her. “Only where you tell me to.”
As I opened the door, she asked, “And you swear you’ll listen?”
I placed my hand on my heart as my car came toward us. “I’ll be a good boy, if that’s what you want.”
“I doubt you know how,” she said, but she slid into the backseat of my car.
I followed her, wondering why I was so intoxicated with her. Women never had me this wound up. But I craved Carrigan tonight. Maybe it was her goodness. I hoped a quick bite and seeing more of her might unwind the desire she stirred in me.
Order Legendary Rock Star now.
Also by Victoria Pinder
Returning for Valentine’s (FREE if you go to my website)
The House of Morgan
Secret Crush (FREE ON ALL STORES)
Secret Baby
Secret Bet
Secret Wish
Secret Dad
Secret Heir
Secret Tryst
Secret Date
Secret Romeo
Secret Caress
Secret Match
Secret Bridesmaid
Secret Admirer
Secret Cowboy
Secret Mistress
Secret Cinderella
The House of Morgan Boxed Set 1-3
The House of Morgan Boxed Set 4-6
The House of Morgan Boxed Set 7-9
The House of Morgan Boxed Set 10-12
The House of Morgan Boxed Set 13-15
Princes of Avce
Forbidden Crown (FREE ON ALL STORES)
Forbidden Prince
Forbidden Royal
Forbidden Duke
Forbidden Earl
Forbidden Monsieur
Forbidden Marquis
Forbidden Count
Forbidden King
Forbidden Bastard
Forbidden Noble
Forbidden Lord
Princes of Avce 1-3
Princes of Avce 4-6
Princes of Avce 7-9
Steel Series
Legendary Rock Star
Rocking Player
Ruthless Financier
Wicked Cowboy
Powerful Prince
Cocky M.D.
The Hawke Fortune
Tempting Gabe
Tempting James
Tempting Conner
Tempting Harry
Tempting Navid
Hawke Series
Brothers in Revenge
Irresistibly Lost (FREE ON ALL STORES)
Irresistibly Found
Irresistibly Charming
Irresistibly Tough
Irresistibly Played
Irresistibly Rugged
Irresistibly Strong
Irresistibly Dashing
Irresistibly Boxed Set 3-5
Irresistibly Boxed Set 4-6
Hidden Alphas
Hidden Gabriel (FREE ON ALL STORES)
Hidden Raphael
Hidden Michael
Hidden Dane
Hidden Rocco
Hidden Alphas Boxed Set
The Marshall Family Saga
Favorite Crush
Favorite Mistake
Favorite Sin
Favorite Scandal
The Collins Brothers
Chaperoning Paris
Borrowing the Doctor
Gerard
Liam
Eric
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Earthseekers Mission
Makeup May Change Your Life
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About the Author
USA Today Bestselling Author, Victoria Pinder grew up in Irish Catholic Boston then moved to Miami. Eventually, found that writing is her passion. She always wrote stories to entertain herself. Her parents are practical minded people demanding a job, but when she sat down to see what she enjoyed doing, writing became obvious.
Visit my website and download a free novel